Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg gave a commencement speech at Harvard University on Thursday, 12 years after dropping out to focus on what's now the world's biggest social network.
President Faust, Board of Overseers, faculty, alumni, friends, proud parents, members of the ad board, and graduates of the greatest university in the world:
How many of you remember exactly what you were doing when you got that email telling you that you got into Harvard? I was playing "Civilization" and I ran downstairs, got my dad, and for some reason, his reaction was to video me opening the email.
Mine was Computer Science 121 with the incredible Harry Lewis.
[...] any of you graduating can use that line.
Today I want to talk about purpose.
[...] I'm here to tell you finding your purpose isn't enough.
Purpose is that sense that we are part of something bigger than ourselves, that we are needed, that we have something better ahead to work for.
Purpose is what creates true happiness.
Many people feel disconnected and depressed, and are trying to fill a void.
To keep our society moving forward, we have a generational challenge to not only create new jobs, but create a renewed sense of purpose.
You see, my hope was never to build a company, but to make an impact.
[...] as all these people started joining us, I just assumed that's what they cared about too, so I never explained what I hoped we'd build.
Without a sense of higher purpose, this was the startup dream come true.
After one tense argument, an adviser told me if I didn't agree to sell, I would regret the decision for the rest of my life.
Relationships were so frayed that within a year or so every single person on the management team was gone.
Today I want to talk about three ways to create a world where everyone has a sense of purpose: by taking on big meaningful projects together, by redefining equality so everyone has the freedom to pursue purpose, and by building community across the world.
[...] let's take on big meaningful projects.
Millions of volunteers immunized children around the world against polio.
[...] let me tell you a secret:
If I had to understand everything about connecting people before I began, I never would have started Facebook.
The idea of a single eureka moment is a dangerous lie.
How about stopping climate change before we destroy the planet and getting millions of people involved manufacturing and installing solar panels?
How about curing all diseases and asking volunteers to track their health data and share their genomes?
How about modernizing democracy so everyone can vote online, and personalizing education so everyone can learn?
[...] we're all entrepreneurial, whether we're starting projects or finding or role.
[...] an entrepreneurial culture thrives when it's easy to try lots of new ideas.
Right now our society is way over-indexed on rewarding success and we don't do nearly enough to make it easy for everyone to take lots of shots.
There is something wrong with our system when I can leave here and make billions of dollars in 10 years while millions of students can't afford to pay off their loans, let alone start a business.
Look, I know a lot of entrepreneurs, and I don't know a single person who gave up on starting a business because they might not make enough money.
[...] I know lots of people who haven't pursued dreams because they didn't have a cushion to fall back on if they failed.
If I had to support my family growing up instead of having time to code, if I didn't know I'd be fine if Facebook didn't work out, I wouldn't be standing here today.
Previous generations fought for the vote and civil rights.
[...] as technology keeps changing, we need to focus more on continuous education throughout our lives.
[...] yes, giving everyone the freedom to pursue purpose isn't free.
In one year, three of four U.S. millennials made a donation and seven out of ten raised money for charity.
When Priscilla graduated from Harvard she became a teacher, and before she'd do education work with me, she told me I needed to teach a class.
[...] she insisted, so I taught a middle school program on entrepreneurship at the local Boys and Girls Club.
First in their families.
Let's give everyone the freedom to pursue their purpose not only because it's the right thing to do, but because when more people can turn their dreams into something great, we're all better for it.
The third way we can create a sense of purpose for everyone is by building community.
In a survey asking millennials around the world what defines our identity, the most popular answer wasn't nationality, religion or ethnicity, it was "citizen of the world".
The forces of freedom, openness and global community against the forces of authoritarianism, isolationism and nationalism.
Whether our communities are houses or sports teams, churches or music groups, they give us that sense we are part of something bigger, that we are not alone.
Kayla and Niha started a nonprofit that connects people suffering from illnesses with people in their communities willing to help.
A student in a dorm room, connecting one community at a time, and keeping at it until one day we connect the whole world.
In our generation, the struggle of whether we connect more, whether we achieve our biggest opportunities, comes down to this your ability to build communities and create a world where every single person has a sense of purpose.
Class of 2017, you are graduating into a world that needs purpose.
Before you walk out those gates one last time, as we sit in front of Memorial Church, I am reminded of a prayer, Mi Shebeirach, that I say whenever I face a challenge, that I sing to my daughter thinking about her future when I tuck her into bed.
May the source of strength, who blessed the ones before us, help us 'find the courage' to make our lives a blessing.